The African-American cinema: Between protest and integration

Résumé du document

The invention of cinema happened at the very same time as the establishment of the segregation in the South. This social and political system, which advocated prejudices and inequality of races, is definitely going to stigmatize the nature of the relationships between the American cinema and the Black community. The story of the African American cinema should be understood as a constant hesitation between protest and integration. The B of a N was first screened in February 1915. For many reasons, this film has a very special status and a very strong meaning in the history of cinema: first because of its length (172 min), then because of its budget (100 000$), its cinematographic qualities and finally because of its huge success. The B of a N is a key movie insofar as it really influenced the birth of Hollywood and the beginning of the American supremacy on cinema.

Extraits

[...] The film then turns into a sort of “anti-negro” propaganda film. A closer look at the Black characters'portrayal shows Griffith's willingness to depict two types of Black characters: the ‘good negro' in a paternalistic and despising representation, and the negro', in a hateful and frightening one. The Black nanny, who is played by a fat White actor, embodied the good negro, the servile slave, satisfied with her destiny, faithful to the Southerners. She hates the freed Black slaves from the North whose she thinks are lusting after her master's goods. [...]

[...] but also some positive aspects such as the economic and social success or the integration of some of them in the American society. Such movies are watched by a mixed audience and contribute to promote the Black culture in the American society. III) Malcom X (1992) The African-American cinema in the 90' reflects the growing integration of the Blacks into the American society and the recognition of their identity: more and more African-American movies, more and more black actors, directors or producers, more and more African-American blockbusters, such as Malcom X. [...]

[...] The story of the African American cinema should be understood as a constant hesitation between protest and integration. the Birth of a Nation (1915) The B of a N was first screened in February 1915. For many reasons, This film has a very special status and a very strong meaning in the history of cinema: first because of its length (172 min), then because of its budget (100 its cinematographic qualities and finally because of its huge success. The B of a N is a key movie insofar as it really influenced the birth of Hollywood and the beginning of the American supremacy on cinema. [...]

[...] The leader is shown as a prophet and a martyr, more like a religious icon than a human being. It's a kind of hero worship. If SL qualified the radical discourse of the leader, it's essentially because he favoured the racial struggle more than the class struggle. The movie only deals with racial issues. Thus, the films starts with the images of Rodney King's beating up (in white policemen were filmed beating up a Black driver. They had been acquitted which triggered very violent racial riots in LA) and a particularly violent speech of MX: charge the White man for being the greatest murderer on earth”. [...]

[...] For example the self-imposed sexual abstinence of SP's character is so improbable that the Black critics started to call SP sublimation man. Most of them thought that SP's cheesy movies weren't in any case helping the Black cause but, on the contrary, tranquilized the guilt-feelings of the White middle and upper class, by adopting and confirming its values An incarnation of the white ideal For the Black community, SP is the perfect and sublimated symbol of what the Black man must be, according to the liberal Whites's standards. [...]